Solenoid and connector assembly

The present disclosure relates to electrical connectors and electrical devices and more particularly to an assembly of an electrical device such as a motor or solenoid and an electrical connector having improved reliability.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may or may not constitute prior art.

Compact electrical devices such as motors and solenoids are often housed in cylindrical housings which correspond generally to the active components of the device: a rotor surrounded by a cylindrical stator in the case of a motor or a plunger surrounded by a cylindrical coil in the case of a solenoid. Such cylindrical housings are efficient packages for such devices as they generally require a minimum of material and result in a package having minimum dimensions.

Since one end of a typical motor or solenoid will include an output feature, either a shaft or a plunger, it is frequently convenient to arrange the electrical input or terminals on the opposite end. Input connections or terminals so located also maintain the cylindrical symmetry of the housing.

A problem may develop with such an arrangement, however, especially in smaller devices in which the spacing between the motor shaft, solenoid plunger or other electrically components associated with them and the electrical terminals is limited. In such situations, conductive foreign matter may bridge the gap between an electrical terminal and the shaft or plunger and intermittently or permanently short circuit the device.

This problem can be especially acute in motors and solenoids for automotive applications because of the constant demand for weight saving which generally encourages lighter and therefore smaller devices and the fact that they are often exposed to deleterious atmospheric conditions such as dirt, metallic debris and other contaminants and particulates. Furthermore, a failure of the motor or solenoid due to a short circuit to ground may cause consequential failure of related components or controllers. The present invention addresses this difficulty with motors, solenoids and other similar electrical devices.

The present invention provides a solenoid and electrical connector assembly which includes a solenoid body having a pair of electrical terminals disposed on opposite sides of a plunger component and a connector having two corresponding electrical terminals and a non-conductive blade or tongue disposed therebetween. When assembled, the tongue of the connector seats between the terminals on the solenoid body and inhibits ingress of foreign matter in the region between the terminals of the solenoid. The service life and reliability of the solenoid are thus greatly improved.

The invention is also suitable for and may be utilized with a motor having a bearing at one end and a pair of electrical terminals disposed on opposite sides of the bearing. The electrical connector includes a pair of electrical terminals correspondingly arranged and a blade or tongue which seats between the terminals of the motor and protects the bearing from foreign matter thereby reducing the likelihood of a short circuit.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a solenoid and connector assembly having a tongue disposed between a pair of terminals.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a solenoid having a pair of terminals on opposite sides of a plunger component and a connector having a corresponding pair of terminals and a tongue between the terminals which protects the plunger component when the solenoid and connector are assembled.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a solenoid having a pair of terminals on opposite sides of a plunger and a connector having a corresponding pair of terminals and a tongue between the terminals which covers the plunger when the solenoid and connector are assembled to inhibit ingress of foreign matter.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a motor having a pair of terminals on opposite sides of a bearing and a connector having a corresponding pair of terminals and a tongue between the terminals which protects the bearing when the motor and connector are assembled.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a motor having a pair of terminals on opposite sides of a bearing and a connector having a corresponding pair of terminals and a tongue between the terminals which covers the bearing when the motor and connector are assembled to inhibit ingress of foreign matter.

Further objects, advantages and areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a solenoid and an electrical connector according to the present invention in pre-assembly configuration;

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